Boom assembly joints

ABSTRACT

A boom structure for a mobile agricultural implement. The boom structure includes a first transversely extending beam member having a first protrusion. The boom structure includes a second transversely extending beam member having a second protrusion. The second transversely extending beam member is spatially offset from the first transversely extending beam member. A plurality of first coupling members are connected to the first protrusion and a plurality of second coupling members connected to the second protrusion. A plurality of connecting members are connected to the first and second coupling members to connect the first and second transversely extending beam members.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/228,539, filed Sep. 9, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No.8,746,589, and entitled, BOOM ASSEMBLY JOINTS, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to mobile agriculturalimplements, and more particularly to boom assembly joints for mobileagricultural implements.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In order to dispense treatments, mobile agricultural implements commonlyinclude a frame, at least one front wheel, a set of rear wheels, a tankfor storing a treatment to be dispensed, and a pair of boom assemblies.

Each boom assembly typically includes a triangular or L-shapedconfiguration with the base triangle or the lower leg of the L-shapedconfiguration at the bottom of the boom. Alternatively, each boomassembly may include an inverted right triangle configuration with thebase of the triangle at an uppermost portion of the boom as shown incommonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,501.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one embodiment, a boom structure for a mobile agricultural implementincludes a first transversely extending beam member having a firstprotrusion. The boom structure includes a second transversely extendingbeam member having a second protrusion. The second transverselyextending beam member is spatially offset from (e.g., facing orgenerally parallel to) the first transversely extending beam member. Aplurality of first coupling members are coupled to the first protrusionand a plurality of second coupling members coupled to the secondprotrusion. A plurality of connecting members are coupled to the firstand second coupling members to connect the first and second transverselyextending beam members.

Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of thedetailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile agricultural implementaccording to one embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the mobile agriculturalimplement shown in FIG. 1, where the implement features boom assemblyjoints.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a portion of themobile agricultural implement shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the mobile agricultural implement shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a portion of themobile agricultural implement shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the mobile agricultural implement shown inFIG. 5.

Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understoodthat the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and the arrangement of components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the following drawings. Thedisclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or ofbeing carried out in various ways.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile agricultural implement 10. The illustratedmobile agricultural implement 10 includes a frame 15, one or more frontwheels 20, a set of rear wheels 25, a tank 30 for storing a treatment(e.g., chemical) to be dispensed, and a pair of boom assemblies 35having a boom structure 40. Alternatively, the mobile agriculturalimplement 10 may be a pull-behind type device with no front wheel.

With reference to FIG. 2, the boom assembly 35 of the mobileagricultural implement 10 may be assembled with little or no welding.Little or no welding is possible because of weldless boom assemblyjoints 37, for example.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 5, and 6 each boom structure 40 includes a firstpair of left and right transversely extending beam members 45, 50 eachhaving a first protrusion 55, 60 and a first sheet member receivingportion 65, 70 (FIG. 6). Referring to FIGS. 2-4, each boom structure 40includes a second pair of left and right transversely extending beammembers 75, 80 each having a second protrusion 85, 90 and a second sheetmember receiving portion 95, 100 (FIGS. 3-4). Referring to FIG. 2, thesecond pair of left and right transversely extending beam members 75, 80is spatially offset from (e.g., facing or generally parallel to) thefirst pair of left and right transversely extending beam members 45, 50.

The left first transversely extending beam member 45 may be generallyparallel to the left second transversely extending beam member 75. Theright first transversely extending beam member 50 may be generallyparallel to the right second transversely extending beam member 80. Thefirst and second pair of left and right transversely extending beammembers (45, 50, 75, 80) may form a parallelogram. The first and secondprotrusions (55, 60, 85, 90) may be T-shaped, L-shaped, form a retentionrail, or form other shapes suitable for mounting. The first and secondpair of left and right transversely extending beam members (45, 50, 75,80) may be fabricated from a metal, an alloy, aluminum, an aluminumalloy, or other light weight material including carbon fiber,composites, a polymer, a plastic, a filler in a resin matrix, or anothersuitable material. For example, 6061-T6 aluminum may be used, whichprovides some corrosion resistance.

A first sheet member 102 is received by the first sheet member receivingportions 65, 70 of the first pair of left and right transverselyextending beam members 45, 50 and a second sheet member 103 is receivedby the second sheet member receiving portions 95, 100 of the second pairof left and right transversely extending beam members 75, 80. The firstand second sheet members (102, 103) may be fabricated from a metal, analloy, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or other light weight materialincluding carbon fiber, composites, a polymer, a plastic, a filler in aresin matrix, or another suitable material. Aluminum provides somecorrosion resistance.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, a tube holder 105 is coupled to thesecond protrusions 85, 90 of the second pair of left and righttransversely extending beam members 75, 80. A tube 110 is coupled to thetube holder 105. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a nozzle 115 in fluidcommunication with the tube 110 is positioned between the second pair ofleft and right transversely extending beam members 75, 80. The nozzle115 is positioned between the second pair of left and right transverselyextending beam members 75, 80 to protect the nozzle 115. The tube holder105 and tube 110 may be fabricated from a metal, an alloy, aluminum, analuminum alloy, or other light weight material including carbon fiber,composites, a polymer, a plastic, a filler in a resin matrix, or anothersuitable material. Aluminum provides some corrosion resistance.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, each boom structure 40 includes aplurality of first coupling members 120 coupled to the first protrusion55, 60 of each of the first pair of left and right transverselyextending beam members 45, 50. Each first coupling member 120 has afirst portion 125 with a first portion protrusion 130 and a first groove135. The first coupling member 120 has a second portion 140 with asecond portion protrusion 145 and a second groove 150. The first portionprotrusion 130 and the second portion protrusion 145 are facinglyengaged. The first portion protrusion 130 and the second portionprotrusion 145 may be tapered. The first groove 135 and the secondgroove 150 receive one of the first protrusions 55, 60. An adhesive 155may be applied to the first and second grooves 135, 150 to couple thefirst and second portions 125, 140 to one of the first protrusions 55,60. A plurality of rivets 160 or adhesive 165 may be used to couple thefirst portion protrusion 130 of the first coupling member 120 to thesecond portion protrusion 145 of the first coupling member 120.One-quarter inch Alcoa Huck Magna-Lok® aluminum blind rivets may beused. The first coupling member 120 may be fabricated from a metal, analloy, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or other light weight materialincluding carbon fiber, composites, a polymer, a plastic, a filler in aresin matrix, or another suitable material. Die-cast aluminum provides alow manufacturability cost.

With reference to FIGS. 2-4, each boom structure 40 includes a pluralityof second coupling members 170 coupled to the second protrusion 85, 90of each of the second pair of left and right transversely extending beammembers 75, 80. Each second coupling member 170 has a first portion 175with a first portion protrusion 180 and a first groove 185. The secondcoupling member 170 has a second portion 190 with a second portionprotrusion 195 and a second groove 200. The first portion protrusion 180and the second portion protrusion 195 are facingly engaged. The firstportion protrusion 180 and the second portion protrusion 195 may betapered. The first groove 185 and the second groove 200 receive one ofthe second protrusions 85, 90. An adhesive 205 may be applied to thefirst and second grooves 185, 200 to couple the first and secondportions 175, 190 to one of the second protrusions 85, 90. A pluralityof rivets 210 or adhesive 215 may be used to couple the first portionprotrusion 180 of the second coupling member 170 to the second portionprotrusion 195 of the second coupling member 170. One-quarter inch AlcoaHuck Magna-Lok® aluminum blind rivets may be used. The second couplingmember 170 may be fabricated from a metal, an alloy, aluminum, analuminum alloy, or other light weight material including carbon fiber,composites, a polymer, a plastic, a filler in a resin matrix, or anothersuitable material. Die-cast aluminum provides a low manufacturabilitycost.

Referring to FIGS. 2-6, each boom structure 40 includes a plurality ofconnecting members 220 each having a first aperture 225 that receivesthe protrusion 130, 145 of each of the first and second portions 125,140 of the first coupling member 120 and a second aperture 230 thatreceives the protrusion 180, 195 of each of the first and secondportions 175, 190 of the second coupling member 170. The first portionprotrusion 130 and the second portion protrusion 145 may be tapered toself align the first aperture 225 of the connecting member 220 with thefirst and second portion protrusions 130, 145 of the first couplingmember 120. The first portion protrusion 180 and the second portionprotrusion 195 may be tapered to self align the second aperture 230 ofthe connecting member 220 with the first and second portion protrusions180, 195 of the second coupling member 170.

The connecting members 220 are coupled to the first and second couplingmembers 120, 170 to connect the first left transversely extending beammember 45 to the second left transversely extending beam member 75 andto connect the first right transversely extending beam member 50 to thesecond right transversely extending beam member 80. The connectingmembers 220 may be fabricated from a metal, an alloy, aluminum, analuminum alloy, or other light weight material including carbon fiber,composites, a polymer, a plastic, a filler in a resin matrix, or anothersuitable material. Aluminum provides some corrosion resistance.

Each boom structure 40 includes a hinge 235. The hinge 235 is coupled tothe first and second pair of left and right transversely extending beammembers 45, 50, 75, 80 using fasteners 237. The fasteners 237 may beself-tapping fasteners. The hinge 235 couples the boom structure 40 tothe mobile agricultural implement 10. The hinge 235 may be fabricatedfrom cast aluminum and extruded aluminum, which provides lowmanufacturability cost. The hinge 235 may also be fabricated from ametal, an alloy, an aluminum alloy, or other light weight materialincluding carbon fiber, composites, a polymer, a plastic, a filler in aresin matrix, or another suitable material.

Each boom structure 40 includes a first sheet member 240 received by thefirst sheet member receiving portions 65, 70 of the first pair of leftand right transversely extending beam members 45, 50. Each boomstructure 40 includes a second sheet member 245 received by the secondsheet member receiving portions 95, 100 of the second pair of left andright transversely extending beam members 75, 80. The first and secondsheet members (240, 245) may be fabricated from 6061-T6 aluminum, whichprovides some corrosion resistance. The first and second sheet members(240, 245) may also be fabricated from a metal, an alloy, aluminum, analuminum alloy, or other light weight material including carbon fiber,composites, a polymer, a plastic, a filler in a resin matrix, or anothersuitable material.

Advantageously, the boom structure 40 of the disclosure may be assembledwithout welding or with minimal welding by use of innovative boomassembly joints 37. Reduction of welding in manufacturing of the boomstructure 40 reduces skilled labor requirements, energy consumption, andother costs associated with welding, and is well suited for reducingproduct cost of the boom structure 40. The boom assembly joints 37facilitate structural integrity of the boom structure 40 by providingsufficient torsional stability for sprayers and other agriculturalapplications, for example.

Various features are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pair of boom assemblies mounted on a mobileagricultural implement, each of the pair of boom assemblies having aboom structure, wherein the boom structure comprises: a firsttransversely extending beam member comprising a first protrusion; asecond transversely extending beam member comprising a secondprotrusion, the second transversely extending beam member spatiallyoffset from the first transversely extending beam member; a plurality offirst coupling members each forming a first connection to the firstprotrusion; a plurality of second coupling members each forming a secondconnection to the second protrusion; a plurality of connecting memberseach forming a third connection to respective first and second couplingmembers to join together the first and second transversely extendingbeam members; wherein the extending beam members, the coupling membersand the connecting members are made of a composite or carbon fiber; andwherein the first and second coupling members each comprises a firstportion comprising a first portion protrusion and a first groove and asecond portion comprising a second portion protrusion and a secondgroove, wherein the first portion and second portion protrusions arefacingly engaged, and the first and second grooves receive one of thefirst and second protrusions.
 2. The pair of boom assemblies of claim 1,wherein the third connection is weld less.
 3. The pair of boomassemblies of claim 1, wherein the first connection and secondconnection are weldless.
 4. The pair of boom assemblies of claim 1,wherein the first and second transversely extending beam members areparallel to each other.
 5. The pair of boom assemblies of claim 1,wherein the first and second protrusions are T-shaped.
 6. The pair ofboom assemblies of claim 1, wherein the first and second protrusionscomprise a retention rail.
 7. The pair of boom assemblies of claim 6,further comprising an adhesive that connects the first portionprotrusion of the first coupling member to the second portion protrusionof the first coupling member and that connects the first portionprotrusion of the second coupling member to the second portionprotrusion of the second coupling member.
 8. The pair of boom assembliesof claim 1, further comprising an adhesive applied to the first grooveand the second groove to couple the first and second portions to one ofthe first and second protrusions.
 9. The pair of boom assemblies ofclaim 1, wherein the connecting members each comprise a first aperturethat receives the first portion protrusion and the second portionprotrusion of the first coupling member and a second aperture thatreceives the first portion protrusion and the second portion protrusionof the second coupling member.
 10. The pair of boom assemblies of claim1, wherein the first portion and second portion protrusions of a firstcoupling member are tapered to self align a first aperture of theconnecting member with the first portion and second portion protrusionsof the first coupling member.
 11. The pair of boom assemblies of claim1, further comprising a plurality of rivets to couple the first portionprotrusion of the first coupling member to the second portion protrusionof the first coupling member and to couple the first portion protrusionof the second coupling member to the second portion protrusion of thesecond coupling member.
 12. The pair of boom assemblies of claim 1,further comprising a hinge coupled to the first and second transverselyextending beam members, wherein the hinge is made of metal or alloy. 13.A pair of boom assemblies mounted on a mobile agricultural implement,each of the pair of boom assemblies having a boom structure, wherein theboom structure comprises: a first transversely extending beam membercomprising a first protrusion; a second transversely extending beammember comprising a second protrusion, the second transversely extendingbeam member spatially offset from the first transversely extending beammember; a plurality of first coupling members each forming a firstconnection to the first protrusion; a plurality of second couplingmembers each forming a second connection to the second protrusion; aplurality of connecting members each forming a third connection torespective first and second coupling members to join together the firstand second transversely extending beam members; wherein the extendingbeam members, the coupling members and the connecting members are madeof a composite or carbon fiber; wherein the first and second protrusionscomprise a retention rail; wherein the connecting members each comprisea first aperture that receives the first portion protrusion and thesecond portion protrusion of the first coupling member and a secondaperture that receives the first portion protrusion and the secondportion protrusion of the second coupling member; and wherein the firstportion and second portion protrusions of the second coupling member aretapered to self align the second aperture of the connecting member withthe first portion and second portion protrusions of the second couplingmember.
 14. A mobile agricultural implement comprising: a frame; a frontwheel connected to the frame; a pair of transversely spaced rear wheelsconnected to the frame; a tank coupled to the frame for storing atreatment to be dispensed; and a boom structure comprising, a firsttransversely extending beam member comprising a first protrusion; asecond transversely extending beam member comprising a secondprotrusion, the second transversely extending beam member spatiallyoffset from the first transversely extending beam member; a firstcoupling member connected to the first protrusion; a second couplingmember connected to the second protrusion; a connecting member coupledto each of the first and second coupling members to connect the firstand second transversely extending beam members; wherein the extendingbeam members, the coupling members and the connecting members are madeof a composite or carbon fiber; and wherein the first and secondcoupling members each comprises a first portion comprising a firstportion protrusion and a first groove and a second portion comprising asecond portion protrusion and a second groove, wherein the first portionand second portion protrusions are facingly engaged, and the first andsecond grooves receive one of the first and second protrusions.
 15. Themobile agricultural implement of claim 14, further comprising a hingecoupling the first and second transversely extending beam members,wherein the hinge is made of metal or alloy.
 16. The mobile agriculturalimplement of claim 14, further comprising a first joint between thefirst coupling member and the first protrusion, and a second jointbetween the second coupling member and the second protrusion, andwherein the first and second joints are weldless and made of a compositeor carbon fiber.
 17. The mobile agricultural implement of claim 14,further comprising a first connection between each connecting member andrespective each first and second coupling members, wherein the firstconnections are weldless.
 18. The mobile agricultural implement of claim14, wherein the first and second transversely extending beam members areparallel to each other.
 19. The mobile agricultural implement of claim14, wherein the first and second protrusions comprise a retention rail.